feeding frenzy

Definition of feeding frenzy

1: a frenzy of eating : a wildly aggressive attack of prey by an animal or group of animals
sharks in a feeding frenzyChemoreception seems to be highly developed in this snake and the smell of prey is sufficient to initiate a feeding frenzy.— Douglas Cable et al.

2: an intensely and often wildly competitive and aggressive human activity likened to frenzied feeding by predatory animals
They do not relish the journalistic feeding frenzy that will greet the senator's likely appearance on the witness stand. — U.S. News & World ReportMost of the Westerners who attended the heavily hyped sale knew very little about Soviet art — or the Soviet Union for that matter — but were whipped into a feeding frenzy by the historic excitement of the moment.— Harlow Robinson

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feeding frenzy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.